Italy’s Mount Etna erupts in a plume of smoke and lava

Mount Etna, located on the east coast of Sicily, Italy has erupted once again on Saturday night [January 30], spewing ash and lava into the sky.

Mount Etna on the east coast of Sicily, Italy erupts.

The mountain is one of Europe’s most active volcanos, and one of three known active volcanoes in Italy, according to Euro News.

The area surrounding Etna was secured and warded off, as local officials expected the eruption to take place. There have been no reported injuries or deaths.

Mount Etna’s latest eruption was caused by a series of small earthquakes, which caused a split in a crater. These minor earthquakes and subsequent splitting of Etna’s craters added to the latest spectacular eruption.

According to Carmelo Ferlito, Volcanologist from the University of Catania who spoke to Euro News, ‘The one that is really very active now is the south-east crater which in these last weeks has been completely broken apart. It’s dissected, it’s really split in two like a banana split.’

Mount Etna first started erupting on January 17, which was picked up by volcanologist Boris Behncke who made the announcement on Twitter.

Since this morning, 17 January 2021, a little lava flow is oozing from #Etna‘s Southeast Crater toward east, reaching a length of a few hundred meters. Thermal images by the INGV-Osservatorio Etneo surveillance cameras pic.twitter.com/EbPIr2qdx3

— Boris Behncke (@etnaboris) January 17, 2021

Etna has been erupting at irregular intervals ever since Behncke first reported it.

Take a look at some of the most spectacular images and videos of the eruptions below.

Spectacular view | Mount Etna’s eruption continues with fiery lava spewing pic.twitter.com/JPVLG3msoU

— RT (@RT_com) February 1, 2021

WATCH: Video shows Mount Etna erupt with lava several times https://t.co/QoLFH3wj7b pic.twitter.com/pjP5AZWykY

— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) February 1, 2021

Mild Strombolian activity continues at the eastern vent of the Southeast Crater on #Etna, and every now and then the “saddle vent” (left) shows up, too. 22 January 2021 evening. pic.twitter.com/YgaofI5jlw

— Boris Behncke (@etnaboris) January 22, 2021

Mild eruptive activity continues at the Southeast Crater at the summit of #Etna on the evening of 30 January 2021. Here we see strong glow (caused by reflection of the incandescence in the gas plume) at the eastern vents (right), and a small burst from the “saddle vent” (center). pic.twitter.com/TChMcfV74N

— Boris Behncke (@etnaboris) January 30, 2021

Strombolian activity at #Etna‘s Southeast Crater (most active of the 4 summit craters) at daybreak, 27 January 2021. Filmed from home in the village of Tremestieri Etneo, 20 km south-southeast of the summit of the volcano. This activity looks spectacular but is entirely harmless. pic.twitter.com/mEAqN3gaK9

— Boris Behncke (@etnaboris) January 27, 2021

Beautiful Strombolian activity at two vents on #Etna‘s Southeast Crater on the evening of 23 January 2021. Every now and then weak glows can also be seen at the Bocca Nuova crater (at left in the third photo). pic.twitter.com/d7sBGdVL3H

— Boris Behncke (@etnaboris) January 23, 2021

Picture: Twitter/@etnaboris

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